Even small amounts of exercise can help obese kids improve their mental health and shrug off teasing associated with their body weight, says a new report by an Ottawa researcher.

“We’re talking about psychological benefits derived from improved fitness resulting from modest amount of aerobic exercise – not a change in weight or body fat,” said Dr. Gary Goldfield, a registered psychologist and clinical researcher at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) Research Institute.

Published today in the Journal of Pediatric Psychology, Dr. Goldfield’s study of thirty teens showed that after two bouts of light exercise a week, obese teens felt more confident about their body image, self-esteem and academic and social success.

“The first thing I tell teens and parents struggling with their weight in my practice is to throw away the scale,” said Dr. Goldfield. “These kids face enough challenges. This new study is proof positive that even a modest dose of exercise is prescriptive for a mental health boost.”